Romans 13
1 Let every one submit to the authorities that are over him; for there is no authority which is not from God: and the authorities which exist have been ordained by God.
Let every soul submit to the governing authorities, because there is no authority except under God, and the existing authorities have been placed by God.
2 He therefore that setteth himself against the authority resisteth what God hath ordained; and they a who resist will bring upon themselves judgment.
Therefore whoever resists the authority is opposed to God's ordinance, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wouldst thou then not be afraid of the government? Do that which is good, and thou wilt have praise from it;
Now rulers are not a terror to good deeds but to bad ones. So if you wish not to fear the authority, do the good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for the ruler is God's servant to thee for good. But if thou doest evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is God's servant, an avenger to inflict wrath upon him that doeth evil.
because it is God's minister to you with a view to the good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword for nothing; because it is God's minister, an avenger with a view to wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 It is necessary therefore to submit, not only because of the wrath, but also for your conscience' sake.
Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience.
6 For the same reason pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God, attending continually to this very business.
This is precisely why you pay taxes, for they are God's servants, continually attending on this very thing.
7 Render to all what is due to them; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no one anything but brotherly love; for he that loveth others hath fulfilled the Law.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, since he who loves the other has fulfilled the law.
9 For these, “Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,” and every other commandment, are summed up in this precept, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Because—“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever further commandment—everything is summed up in this word, namely: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love worketh no ill to one's neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And this, since we know the time, that it is already high time for us to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we became believers.
Besides this, knowing the time, it is high time for us to be awakened from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us then throw off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.
The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us get rid of the works of the darkness, and let us put on the weapons of the light.
13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and envy;
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual orgies and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy.
14 but clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and think not about satisfying the lusts of the flesh.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, with a view to lusts.
